The St. Clair County District Attorney’s Office recused itself from a case involving a Pell City man who admitted to shooting his father last summer.

District Attorney Richard Minor said that he sought to recuse his office from the case at the bequest of the family of William “Bill” Randolph Carleton, Sr., who died from a gunshot wound to the head. Carleton’s 47-year-old son, Robert “Bob” Carleton admitted to authorities that he shot his father once in the head with a Mossberg shotgun.

D.A. Minor’s office received a letter from William R. Carleton Jr., son of Bill Carleton, Sr., at the end of October requesting that the Alabama Attorney General’s Office “take over any and all legal proceedings involving the murder and death of my father, William R. Carleton, Sr.”

Two days after he received the letter, Minor wrote in a letter to the Attorney General’s Office, “Based on numerous discussions with Mr. Carleton, Jr., and his wife Kathy, as well as limited discussions with Deputy Attorney General William Dill, this office now concurs with the request, and I am thereby recusing my office from the prosecution of this case.”

But shortly thereafter, the Assistant Attorney General Donald G. Valeska, II, the division chief for violent crimes, informed Minor “At this time, the Attorney General’s Office is involved in several capital murder cases that demand our full attention.” The state informed Minor that another prosecutor would be appointed to the case and Madison County District Attorney Robert L. Broussard of Huntsville or his designated assistant district attorney were selected.

The State granted Mr. Broussard “all of the authority of a District Attorney of this Circuit and may perform such duties that are necessary in connection with this assignment.”

Last summer Bob Carleton was indicted by a grand jury for intentionally causing the death of another individual, in this case, his father.

He has remained free on a $250,000 bond since the incident. Under the conditions of his bond, he may have no contact with the Carleton family, though he may stay in contact with his mother, wife and son.

A court order issued last March by Circuit Court Judge Jim Hill further stipulates that Carleton must remain at his residence when he is in St. Clair County. He is also to remain off the family estate, which is presently involved in litigation.

Because a firearm was used in the alleged murder, the defendant faces a Class A Felony, which is punishable by 20 years to life in prison.